Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2020)

218 consumer complaints on file.

#11651541March 29, 2025
AIR BAGS
The airbag light comes on intermittently when a passenger is sitting in the front seat. Took to a LaCrosse WI Hyundai dealer for OBD code. The dealer reported the following: “Body Elect Concern. ODS ECU and Seat Mat Failure. Inspected found code b149000 found code due to ECU failure. Tested seat mat and found mat also failed due to high resistance outside of spec range. Repair estimate given at $2,800.00.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11650148March 24, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was backing out of a parking spot and suddenly the car accelerated backwards into a wall. The floor mat was NOT on the accelerator pedal. Obviously, I might have accidently pressed the gas pedal. But, I strongly believe I did not. For me to be mistaken, all three of the following would have to be true: 1) I would have had to put my foot on the accelerator by mistake, even though I am of sound mind and body, I was not distracted, and I have been driving for decades without having done such a thing. 2) I would have had to continue holding my foot to the gas pedal even as I felt myself racing backwards. 3) Having slammed into the wall, I would have had to be unaware that I had caused the accident. That all three conditions were true seems highly unlikely. (Not impossible. Just unlikely.) I can't imagine stepping on the gas when I meant to step on the brake and then not realizing that I was doing so and then not remembering that I had done so. Cars have computers and computers sometimes have bugs. It seems more likely that a computer glitch caused the crash. And, I suspect that, if it has happened to others, they did not report it because they assume they would not be believed. (When I told a friend of mine what had happened, he told me that, on two separate occasions, he applied the brakes on his Hyundai (a different model) only to have the engine rev up and "fight" his braking. He had to press harder on the brakes to stop his vehicle.) Question: does the onboard computer record all of the car's and computer's activities? (Note: I called the police, who came to document what had happened. I don't believe he filed an official report, but if you need what he recorded, let me know.)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11649290March 19, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, STEERING
Engine oil disappear at 2,000 miles. Car dead stop while driving without any warning ⚠️ break fails at 95 degrees curves. Steering wheel loose and make noise. Hyundai dealer refused to fix the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11647003March 7, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
High utilization of motor oil. Using 1 quart of oil every 300miles. Hyundai dealership (Gurnee Hyundai-Illinois) completed a "combustion system cleaning" but oil consumption continues unabated. Getting run-around from dealership and manufacturer. I am original owner. Care has 87K miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11643886February 20, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that after the vehicle was unoccupied and parked in the residential carport, she was in bed for the night and four bystanders stopped outside the contact's residence. One bystander knocked on the contact's door, the second bystander ran to the back of the house to search for a rear entrance to enter the home and the third bystander grabbed the water hose and attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. The contact mentioned the parts of the vehicle exploded. The fourth bystander called 911 and the contact evacuated from the home. The contact did not sustain injuries. The contact mentioned the bystanders did not sustain injuries either. No medical attention was sought. No police report was filed. The fire departments arrived on the scene, and the firefighters extinguished the fire. The fire consumed the vehicle in the carport and the fire spread to the house causing damage. Fire department reports were filed but no report number was available. The vehicle currently remained on the scene. The insurance company deemed the vehicle and her home totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and an inspector from Progressive Insurance in addition to an inspector from American Modern Home Insurance out to the contact's residence after careful review they could not discover a product defect responsible for the vehicle incident. The failure mileage was 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11638926January 27, 2025
ENGINE
Check engine light began flashing suddenly as I was driving. My vehicle went into limp mode on the interstate in 70 mph traffic, it was dark and pouring down rain. The check engine light was no longer flashing when I went the next day to take to the dealership to be checked. They stated nothing can be done unless it is flashing when I bring it in. This is the 3rd time it has happened in this vehicle, and I have taken in on other occasions with no resolution. This puts my family and I at risk. This appears to have same issues as my previous vehicle a 2014 sonata limited 2.0t.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636032January 15, 2025
SEAT BELTS
Front passenger seat belt will no longer click and lock into place. When held in place by hand, the warning lamp turns off and the audible warning alert turns off. It has not yet been checked by any service department.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635622January 13, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The backup camera will sometimes have black lines and flash off/on while in reverse. Other times, it will display a solid blue screen and the camera doesn't show an image at all. I took it to the dealer and since they weren't able to replicate the problem, they didn't look at it. I showed them a video I recorded, but that wasn't good enough. It's happening more often and seems to mostly occur after the vehicle has been parked outside.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634594January 7, 2025
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11629667December 9, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle seat caught fire overnight, Sept 26th, and was discovered the morning of Sept 27th 2024. The fire was contained to inside the vehicle and melted parts of the driver seat and lower part of steering wheel. The vehicle interior was covered in orange dust and had extremely toxic smell inside. Insurance 3rd party inspected and declared it a total loss. A few weeks later, a neighbor and fellow Hyundai SantaFe owner mentioned that he had heard of an issue with the Santa Fe catching fire. With this new information, I called Hyundai to alert them. Hyundai opened an investigation, but closed the claim since the 3rd party that declared it a total loss had already sold it as salvage. They also denied any recalls pertaining to my specific vehicle or knowledge that electrical fire was a potential issue for this model and year. There was a recall for a tow hitch that lead to fires....but mine did not have a tow hitch. Obvious concern is that this could be a wider issue than just 1 vehicle and lives and property of those owners and others could be at significant risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11628687December 3, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Back up camera glitches. Causes driver assist to take control at times when not necessary. Have has this in for service at least 4 times since purchasing vehicle in 2020. Service states repaired each time bit eventually happens again. This last time is getting more severe cause multiple electrical short in Overhead lights, Panoramic roof failure to close at times and rear hatch sometimes only partially opens. I saw recent recall for 2021 and 2022 Santa fe's, I believe this problem is what is happening with my 2020 Santa fe and the scope of the recall should be expanded.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11627682November 27, 2024
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at higher speeds, the vehicle experienced a momentary loss of motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. An unknown local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to Auto Zone where a diagnostic scanner was used to diagnose the vehicle. The contact was informed that the MAP sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to Advance Auto Parts where, the DTC code: P2565; was retrieved. The contact stated that the spark plugs, and the MAP sensor were previously replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,363.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11627278November 25, 2024
ENGINE
While driving down the highway my car started slowing down and would not accelerate. All the lights came up on the dash board and would not let me accelerate. I had to merge 2 lanes to the shoulder on a busy highway where my car ended up dying and would not turn over. I was concerned for my safety and the speed limit was 70MPH and my car rapidly went down. After 5 minutes my car came back on and then immediately stopped working again. I had my car towed to the local Hyundai dealer where they said I would need a new engine on a 4 year old car. My make and model are in the recall for engine issues but my VIN # was not included. I spoke to Hyundai a few times and they stated there was nothing they can do and we needed to pay for the new engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11620139October 16, 2024
ENGINE
Vehicle has developed excessive oil consumption. No leaks to be found. Using approximately one quart a week.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614583September 14, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
The park break keeps turning on by its self, rather I'm driving or sitting at a light or stopped at a stop sign. Putting me and my passengers as well as the other motorist on the road at risk for collision.There is an orange EPB light that never goes off that came on about two months ago, and the emergency park break started being engaged without me engaging it after last driving the car, every time I get back in the car. A red park break light comes on and continously blinks and that has been happening for the last month and a half. The breaks lock and I have to keep pushing the park break disengage button and turning the car off several times to get it to disengage at some point, while in traffic. I haven't had this problem checked out yet, because it is so costly, but I plan to.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11613675September 10, 2024
ENGINE
Knock sensor failed while it was raining and at highway speed and caused the vehicle to slow and jerk. After further investigation this has been a recall issue for several years , but Hyundai still has a problem with their Knock sensor and no recall on the 2020 Santa Fe
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11605859August 1, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I parked my 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe in a hospital parking garage on the morning of July 30, 2024. I was getting ready to leave after my doctor’s appointment. I slowly reversed my car and hit a pillar behind me. As I put the car into drive to come forward slowly, the car accelerated forward at a very fast speed. I took my foot off of the gas and kept pressing the brake pedal, but the car kept speeding forward on its own and I crashed headfirst into a concrete wall. The impact cracked the concrete barrier on the outside of the parking garage. The air bags deployed, causing fractures in my sternum and L1 vertebrae. This accident occurred near the elevators/stairs and cars were all around. IF a person had been walking in my path to get to their car, he/she would have been severely hurt or killed. I was able to frantically steer the accelerating car into a handicap parking space and crash into the concrete wall, thus avoiding other cars. If that space was not available, my car could have crashed into another car with people inside. We were just told that the car is going to be totaled. If necessary, it could be inspected before that happens. I thought that I was going to die… the car was out of control. I do not want this to happen to others with this type of car…or put others in its path at risk.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11603304July 19, 2024
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I was driving on the highway going about 75 to 80. My vehicle will start warning me that a car was in front of me when the cars was about 3 to 4 car links ahead of me. The emergency brake will start for at least a mile down the road. Then shut off. It will happen at least 5 times on a 4 hour trip. This really need to be fix before someone get rear end.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11603309July 19, 2024
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
While driving on the highway loss of power and all the light on the info area lit up had to pull over on shoulder and shut off car and restart. And on two separate occasion while on low speed local road brake pedal locked up and I could not stop the car using the brake it was like it was press down already and I was unable to stop.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11594225June 13, 2024
ENGINE
Twice while driving in traffic my vehicle’s engine randomly shut off. This left me in very unsafe conditons as one as at a busy intersection which resulted in cars going around me while I attempted to restart my vehicle. The problem hasn’t been reproduced by a dealership. The vehicle hasn’t been inspected. No warning lights or dtc. First failure was 6ish weeks ago.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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